Minneapolis Nitelife?

[Zach]

Well, I'm headed to the Minneapolis area in a few weeks for some work training.

I'll be staying in the Bloomington area and my training is in Shakopee.

Any MN guys that can recommend some night spots to hit up?

Brews & Steaks preferred....

Thanks,
Zach

 

[Trigger50]

Welcome to the tundra ! There's a place in Minneapolis w 80 beers on tap. I can get the name. Lotsa micro brewerys here. There's a place in St. Paul w good steak called the "Strip Club". Just steak, no suprises! Everything is a 30 min drive in the twin cities. Most restaurants in Bloomington are franchise chains, but there is a nice quiet restaurant w good food in the Hilton right by the airport. From the outside, the Hilton looks old but its really nice inside w a wildlife theme. The resteraunt is very good quality, w medium price range. Its right next to a National Wildlife Refuge. Watch out for the wild turkey roaming the streets.

 

[hardwoods]

Im not from the metro area so cant help there but if you are looking for something to do on the weekend the pope & young museum is in chatfield mn a little over 2 hours south of there. If you are an archery hunter you would enjoy that. Mall of america has some nice restaurants but the place is a zoo.

 

[Jwill]

I spent a few days there for work about a year and a half ago. Also stayed in Bloomington. You can take the light rail into the city from there, so thats pretty convenient. I caught some good live music at the Cabooze, they had good beers and its right off the light rail line. I also snuck in some fishing in WI, but it's not exactly the right time of year for that... I caught a wild tiger trout, so that was pretty cool.

 

[Zach]

Im not from the metro area so cant help there but if you are looking for something to do on the weekend the pope & young museum is in chatfield mn a little over 2 hours south of there. If you are an archery hunter you would enjoy that. Mall of america has some nice restaurants but the place is a zoo.

That would be awesome, but my stay is midweek

 

[pointingdogsrule]

I was at a convention in DOWNTOWN Minneapolis a few years back. Downtown is really dead at night. Like all the people leave after work. Just my experience.

good luck to all
the dog

 

[LopeHunter]

I will be there for a week in July. Hoping for some good local food. Any foods famous there? If not, any good BBQ joints?

 

[JohnCushman]

There's been quite a few places in Minneapolis on the food network show Diners, Drive ins, and Dives. If you go check out the show, you can get a run down state by state of the places they went to.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

Good food place in St. Paul... just across the river. Very famous Italian. Believe it or not it's a cafateria type place. http://www.facebook.com/cossettaspizzeria. GEART food.

good luck to all
the dog

 

[jlmatthew]

When I took the family to Mall of America, I seriously felt like I was back in Mogadishu

 

[hardwoods]

Catch a Twins game

I will be there for a week in July. Hoping for some good local food. Any foods famous there? If not, any good BBQ joints?

At Target Field if they are in town the week you are there. Its a great time!

 

[Z Barebow]

When I took the family to Mall of America, I seriously felt like I was back in Mogadishu

I used to live 35 miles south (20 years) and I can count on one hand the # of times I was in that place. Not my cup of tea.

This place is a little east of Bloomington (Eagan) but it is worth the drive. It matches up with your requirements. They have a microbrew on site and great food. (We have one in Fargo and it our families favorite place to eat). Ask for beer samples before you commit to buying. . Take a look at their on-line menu and I think you will find something.

http://www.gcfb.net/

 

[Z Barebow]

At Target Field if they are in town the week you are there. Its a great time!

I agree. My first game, I spent over $50 on food,,, just for me! But it was very tasty. Not your typical hot dog in a foil wrapper cr@p. Great ball park.:hump:

 

[2rocky]

In 2010 I stayed at the Sofitel in Bloomington. I have to admit I was impressed with the food and drinks at the restaurant, as well as all of the amenities throughout. NOT what I expected from an upper-midwest hotel.

We had no reason to leave for entertainment so I didn't get to check out any other nightlife other than Colette Bar and Bistro. I'd go back if I was inthe area.

 

[MNHunter]

Downtown Minneapolis isn’t my scene but I will go there for steak. Not sure what your budget is but if you want a great steak go to Seven or Manny’s. A more reasonable place to get a good steak is Red Stone. If you are in Shakopee for work it is fairly close by in Eden Prairie. Not much I can recommend around Bloomington, its mostly chain type dining. The 4th floor of MOA has restaurants, a comedy club, and some bars. I personally don’t mind the mall, especially mid week but I don’t go there often either.

St Paul is a farther drive and I know it much better. Cosettas is worth the drive IMO and I like Pazzaluna as well. Red Savoy pizza is awesome as well. If you like hockey you should go see a Wild game if they are in town. It’s a nice arena to watch hockey in.

Let me know when you are in town if you want to grab a beer. I don’t live to far from Bloomington

 

[StrutNut]

I live in the north metro but used to live in Bloomington. Again, strip club has great steaks as does Manny's in downtown. I too dont care for downtown. Sensors in Bloomington was always a good place to hang out. Just not for steaks. It is a sports bar. Loved the sensor fries. I too would road trip to Cosettas. Very nice Italian. Minneapolis has a better night life then St. Paul. If the Wild are not playing, just not much going on there. If you happen to be in Bloomington during the week for lunch, Walley's Roast Beef sandwiches, on Penn and 90th, the best I have had. It is only open during lunch though. If you are here several nights, downtown Minneapolis, excellent but expensive steaks, the best micro brews, very good night life with a fair chance of hearing gun shots. I would go to St. Paul just for Cosetta's. Strip Club, you bet. Mall of America - good change of pace, close to your hotel and OK food.

 

[Zach]

At Target Field if they are in town the week you are there. Its a great time!

I'm bummed I won't be there after baseball starts, I'd love to add Target field to my resume. I have about 20 parks so far on the list.

I'll have to check the NHL schedule and see if the Wild are in town while I'm there.

Great ideas so far, thanks everyone!

 

[StrutNut]

Oh,

If you are into Theater Chanhassen Dinner Theater is worth checking out. I have not been there but many that I know that have really enjoyed it.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

I work about 10 minutes from bloomington and know the area pretty well. I am more of a Saint Paul guy, and only venture into Minneapolis for games and when my wife wants to try some new restaurant.

For steaks I love Mancini's Char House and Lounge in Saint Paul. Without traffic it is only about 10-15 minutes from Bloomington.

For beer and some good food, check out The Happy Gnome. Their menu is a little on the trendy side, but they have an awesome beer selection.

Another place for steaks is Pittsburgh Blue. MNHunter mentioned Manny's, the same guy owns pittsburgh blue. It is just as good IMO, and it is a little cheaper, and a little more layed back atmosphere. There is one about 10 minutes from your hotel north of 494 on france avenue.

As far as nightlife goes, nothing is going to be too exciting during the week, unless you head over to West 7th in Saint Paul when the Wild are playing. On the weekends, either downtown can be a pretty good time depending what you are after. Shamrock's in Saint Paul can have some pretty good live bands, and you can get a juicy lucy (that is a twin cities signature burger).

Shoot me a PM if you want, and when you are in town we can grab a beer. Maybe we can talk Lee into one as well.

 

[StrutNut]

count me in as well on the beers! I am in Blaine.